Benny bernstein



(No Model.)

B. BBRNSTEIN.

GATB LAT0H.- No. 489,918. Patented Jan. 17, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrca BENNY BERNSTEIN, OF NEl/V YORK, N. Y;

GTE-'LATCH SPEGIFICATION formng part of Letters Patent No. 489,918, dated January 17, 1893. Application filed November 20, 1891. Serial No. 412,532. (No model.)

To all whom it may con/oem,.-

Be it known that I, BENNY BERNSTEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate-Latches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and u'se the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements, in fastenings for gates, doors &c., the

invention having for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive fastening which will act automatically and lock the gate or door upon the closure of the same and which can be easily worked to unlock the gate or door when the parts are locked and which will not be liable to work loose or become accidentally unfastened.

To this end my invention consist in a device the construction and arrangements of the parts of which will be more fully hereinafter set forth and specifically described and claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this specification and in which like reference numerals indicate the same parts in the respective figuresz-Figure l represents a side elevation of a gate showing my improved fastening device applied thereto; Fig. 2 represents a detaohed front elevation of the fastening showing the two parts thereof interlocked, and Fig. 3 represents a detached edge or plan View of the same. Fig. 4 represents a view partly in side elevation and partiallyin longitudinal section, the handle being omitted. Fig. 5 represents a face view of the keeper; Fig. 6 represents an edge view showing the bolt as about to enter the keeper.

The numeral l indicates the keeper forming part of a metallio angle-plate 2 and 3 by which it may be secured to the end of the cross bar 4 of the gate or to the edge of a door opposite to the side having the hinges. The sides of said keeper are formed with projecting open lips 5, flaring on their inner sides, and curved upwardly toward the opening between them for the purpose hereinafter explainedB The lips extend toward the outside of the gate as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The numeral indicates the looking bolt which consists of a metallic bar fitted snugly in a tubular sleeve or bearing 7 on a flat plate 8, which may be seoured at the side of the gate post opposite to that at which the gate is hinged. The said bolt at one end is provided at right angles thereto with a weighted dependent arm 9, of such size as to pass freely between the open lips of the keeper before mentioned, when the gate is closed, the weighted arm riding automatically upward on the lower lip of the keeper until it passes between the two lips thereof and falls back of the lower one7 thus looking the bolt in the keeper. The outer end of the upper lip may be made to project slightly beyond the lower one, so as to guide the bolt between the two when elevated to open the gate, and form a stop to limit the upward movement of the arm; or in thefront end of the sleeve 7 is formed a slot 11 and into the bolt 6 extends a pin 12, whereby the turning of the boltislimited and the weighted arm prevented from passing above a horizontal position.

The outer end of the bolt maybe provided with a hand lever by which it may be turned from the outside, but this is not essential, as the bolt may be constructed as shown in Fig. 4; of the drawings and confined in its sleeve or bearing by a screw and washer 10 at the outer end, or otherwise.

The operation of my invention is as follows: i

The parts of the fastening being mounted on the gate and post as described, upon closing the gate the weighted arm rides up between the lips of the keeper and passes between their opening, falliug behind the keeper by its own weight as shown in Fig. 2. To open the gate the bolt is turned either by the hand lever or weighted arm, until the said arm is in a horizontal position, when it may be drawn out of the keeper upon pulling on the gate. The mouth of the keeper is made relatively larger than the diameter of the looking bolt so that sagging of the door or gate is provided for without changing the position of the parts, while the outer opening of said month of the keeper is made smaller and only slightly larger than the diameter of the bolt so as to make a snug fit. The weighted arm and opening therefor between the lips are of less diameter than the bolt so that the bolt cannot escape laterallyont of the keeper, and the accidental escape of the arm is prevented.

VVhile I have shown and described the fastening as applied to a gate it is apparent that it may be used for nnmerons other purposes.

I'Iaving thns fully described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fastening for gates, &c., the combination with a keeper having a flaring, Curved month, slotted at its outer end, with lips which extend upwardly to the slotted end, of a rotary lock-bolt With a weighted arm at right angles thereto, adapted to automatically ride over and between said lips as the gate is closed and fall back and interlock behind the same, snbstantially as specified.

2. In a fastening for gates, &c., the combination with a keeper having a tlaring month and cnrved open lips, of a rotary lo'ck-bolt having a weighted arm at right angles thereto and adapted to be automatically lifted by and masie pass between and drop behind the lips, and a stop to limit the movement of the Weighted arm, substantially as set forth.

3. In a fastening for gates, &c., the combination with a keeper having lips extending npwards at. an incline towards the onter end of the keeper and terminating in a slot narrowed at its top, of a rotary lock bolt having a weighted arm at right angles thereto and adapted to automatically ride up over the lips of the koeper, pass through the narrow top of the slot and drop behind the lips, as the bolt and keepei; are brought together to the locking position, snbstantially as set forth.

4. A fastening for gates &c. consisting of a keeper having flaring month and cnrved open lips, and a looking bolt tnrning freely in its bearing having at one end a weighted arm and at the other a handle tnrning with said bolt for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENN Y `BERNSTEIN- Witnesses:

SAMUEL LISBERGER, WM. II. BRERETON. 

